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Metabolic profile, physical activity, and mortality in breast cancer patients

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Metabolic components [body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum lipids] and physical activity may affect biological mechanisms of importance for breast cancer prognosis. A population-based survival study among 1,364 breast cancer cases within the Norwegian Counties Study during 1974–2005 was conducted. Pre-diagnostic measurements of BMI, blood pressure, serum lipids, and self-reported physical activity were assessed. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used in analyses (SAS version 9.11). Among these breast cancer cases (age at diagnosis 27–79 years), 429 women died (8.2 mean follow-up years). Those with a BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2 had a 1.47 higher risk of dying during follow-up than women with a BMI of 18.5–25 kg/m2 [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.47, 95% CI 1.08–1.99]. Women with BMI < 25 kg/m2 and age of diagnosis ≥55 years had a 66% reduction in overall mortality if they regularly exercised before diagnosis compared with sedentary women (HR = 0.34, 95% CI 0.16–0.71). Women in the highest tertile of total cholesterol had a 29% increase in mortality compared to women in the lowest tertile (HR = 1.29, 95% CI 1.01–1.64). Additionally, women in the highest tertile of blood pressure had a 41% increase in mortality compared to women in the lowest tertile of blood pressure (HR = 1.41, 95% CI 1.09–1.83). Our study supports a relationship between mortality not only in relation to BMI, but also blood pressure, lipids, and physical activity among breast cancer patients. These factors may all be important targets for invention among breast cancer patients.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge each woman who participated and all the professional personnel who made this study possible. Funding for the study was provided by the Norwegian Cancer Society, Health Region East, and Research Council of Norway.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Cancer Center, Oslo University Hospital, Ullevål, 0407, Oslo, Norway

    Aina Emaus, Sissi Espetvedt Finstad, Ellen Schlichting & Inger Thune

  2. Department of Biostatistics, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    Marit Bragelien Veierød

  3. Institute of Population-Based Cancer Research, Norwegian Cancer Registry, 0310, Oslo, Norway

    Steinar Tretli

  4. Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 4404, Oslo, Norway

    Randi Selmer

  5. NORM Surveillance Program for Antimicrobial Resistance in Human Pathogens, Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, University Hospital of North Norway, 9038, Tromsø, Norway

    Anne-Sofie Furberg

  6. Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Anne-Sofie Furberg

  7. Division of Population Sciences, Department of Cancer Etiology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, 91010, CA, USA

    Aina Emaus & Leslie Bernstein

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  1. Aina Emaus
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Correspondence to Aina Emaus.

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Emaus, A., Veierød, M.B., Tretli, S. et al. Metabolic profile, physical activity, and mortality in breast cancer patients. Breast Cancer Res Treat 121, 651–660 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-009-0603-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-009-0603-y

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